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An opinion on hyperbole compared to code word models
1. Random connections
Here are the number of verses in the bible.
| 23,145 |
Old Testament |
| 7,957 |
New Testament |
| 31,102 |
Bible |
How many ways are there to pick out pick out two verses and compare them?
(31,102*31101)/2=483,651,651 or about half a billion ways.
How many of these ways may have important meaning? How many of these ways may not have important meaning?
This is one of the potential dangers of relating verses in different places in the Bible (or any text).
[FORTRAN program analogy, structural induction]
2. Stupid questions
Have you ever heard a teacher say "
there are no stupid questions"? Are there "
stupid people who ask questions"?
In academia, a "
stupid question" can be defined as a question asked by a student for which the answer has already been given or a question that does not relate to the current discussion, or
both!
Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe. Albert Einstein's (Physicist)
3. Aristotle: Posterior Analytics
Aristotle discusses logic and opinion and then makes the following claim.
English: Therefore we are left with the conclusion that it is opinion that is concerned with that which is true or false and which may be otherwise. (Loeb#391, p 167)
Greek: ὥστε λείπεται δόξαν εἶναι περὶ τὸ ἀληθὲς μὲν ἢ ψεῦδος, ἐνδεχόμενον δὲ καὶ ἄλλως ἔχειν. Aristotle: Posterior Analytics [89a]
Aristotle then continues with the discussion and then makes the following remark.
English: These considerations make it clear that it is impossible to have opinion and knowledge at the same time about the same object. (Loeb#391, 171)
Greek: Φανερὸν δ' ἐκ τούτων ὅτι οὐδὲ δοξάζειν ἅμα τὸ αὐτὸ καὶ ἐπίστασθαι ἐνδέχεται. Aristotle: Posterior Analytics [89a]
Most people
prefer opinion, which requires no real skill,
over logic, which requires more skill, is more constraining, and may result in conclusions that are not desired.
4. An opinion on hyperbole compared to code word models
The ancient Greek word
"ὑπερβολή" ≈ "overshooting, superiority, excess" and, in geometry, a "
hyperbola". The Greek word is the source of the English word
"hyperbole" but has acquired the meaning of
exaggerated statements that are not meant to be taken literally and are based on the personal
opinion of the person inferring the "
hyperbole".
The use of "
hyperbole" for inferring the meaning of sayings of Jesus is very popular since anyone can adopt almost any meaning based on personal opinion and then compare that opinion with others to see which people like which opinions.
By contrast, interpreting the meaning of sayings of Jesus using constraint logic and code words where nouns are replaced by other words to get the meaning is not popular.
Unfortunately for those who prefer "
hyperbole", Jesus never says that he is using hyperbole but Jesus does explain his approach to replacing nouns with other nouns to derive meaning.
5. Strongs - hyperbole
- *G5236 *8 ὑπερβολή (hoop-er-bol-ay') : from G5235; a throwing beyond others, i.e. (figuratively) supereminence; adverbially (with G1519 or G2596) pre- eminently:--abundance, (far more) exceeding, excellency, more excellent, beyond (out of) measure.
- υπερβολην *6
- Romans 7:13 ... by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.
- 1 Corinthians 12:31 ... yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
- 2 Corinthians 1:8 ... that we were pressed out of measure, above strength, insomuch that ...
- 2 Corinthians 4:17 ... worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
- Galatians 1:13 ... in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, ...
- υπερβολη *2
- 2 Corinthians 4:7 ... earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, ...
- 2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me ...
6. Usage - hyperbole
*G5236 *8 ὑπερβολή (hoop-er-bol-ay') : from G5235; a throwing beyond others, i.e. (figuratively) supereminence; adverbially (with G1519 or G2596) pre- eminently:--abundance, (far more) exceeding, excellency, more excellent, beyond (out of) measure.
 |
Words: υπερβολη=2 υπερβολην=6
|
7. Hyperbole
2 Corinthians 12:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. [kjv]
και τη υπερβολη των αποκαλυψεων διο ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι εδοθη μοι σκολοψ τη σαρκι αγγελος σατανα ινα με κολαφιζη ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι [gnt]
1 Corinthians 12:31 But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way. [kjv]
ζηλουτε δε τα χαρισματα τα μειζονα και ετι καθ υπερβολην οδον υμιν δεικνυμι [gnt]
The ancient Greek word
"ὑπερβολή" ≈ "overshooting, superiority, excess" and, in geometry, a
"hyperbola". The Greek word is the source of the English word
"hyperbole" but has acquired the meaning of exaggerated statements that are not meant to be taken literally.
8. 2 Corinthians 12:7
KJV: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
Greek: και τη υπερβολη των αποκαλυψεων διο ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι εδοθη μοι σκολοψ τη σαρκι αγγελος σαταν σατανα ινα με κολαφιζη ινα μη υπεραιρωμαι
9. 1 Corinthians 12:31
KJV: But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.
Greek: ζηλουτε δε τα χαρισματα τα κρειττονα μειζονα και ετι καθ υπερβολην οδον υμιν δεικνυμι
10. Parables and secret codes used and explained by Jesus
Jesus often uses
code words so that sayings have more than one meaning.
All the meanings can be true. The encoded (literal) form makes (some) sense and the decoded form makes sense. In general:
Noun words can be code words. Pronouns can be ambiguous.
Verb words are carefully chosen to work in both contexts.
By definition, in the security field, a
code word is a word that needs to be substituted with another word (e.g., using a
code book) to determine the meaning. By definition, in the security field, a
secret code is a code whose meaning is to be obscured to anyone without the code book.
So Jesus, by definition, uses
secret codes. However, these codes appear to provide only authentication information (and warnings about certain heresies) but no special salvation knowledge - which is always is clear text.
11. Matthew 13:52 Scribes
Matthew 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. [kjv]
ο δε ειπεν αυτοις δια τουτο πας γραμματευς μαθητευθεις τη βασιλεια των ουρανων ομοιος εστιν ανθρωπω οικοδεσποτη οστις εκβαλλει εκ του θησαυρου αυτου καινα και παλαια [gnt]
Is everyone a
"scribe"? Is this information only needed by an "
academic"?
Unlike many other nouns that have code word definitions, any code word definition for
"scribe" must be inferred/guessed except that it relates to "
householder".
A
"scribe" works with
letters and
words and
meanings of words. A (classic security) code works with
words and
meanings.
The English word
"scribe" comes from the Latin word
"scriba" ≈ "secretary" which comes from the ancient Greek word
"γραμματεύς" ≈ "scribe, secretary". Matthew was a
"scribe" in his job as a tax collector.
This Greek word was used in the
LXX (Septuagint) to translate the Hebrew word
"סופר" (sofer) ≈ "writer, scholar" which is the verb form of the Hebrew word
"ספר" ≈ "book, writing".
12. Matthew 13:52 Observations
Matthew 13:52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old. [kjv]
There may be multiple messages here. Both of these proposed models for parable 8 (old and new from the treasure) fit with the two models proposed for parable 5 (treasure in a field).
☐ The
starting point for a "
scribe" (who works with letters and words and meanings) to
determine the meaning of the "
kingdom of heaven" is to decode the "
new" (public) messages (created
last) using the example technique provided by Jesus for the "
old" (private) messages (created
first).
☐ After the
end of the age (previous parable), the "
householder" (Jesus as God) will take out of his "
treasure" of "
righteous ones" both "
more recent" or "
quick" and then "
less recent" or "
dead" and
determine the meaning of (and what to do with) each treasure. This could be related to "
idle words", "
unpardonable sin" and/or "
sheep" and "
goats" division.
13. Hyperbole
Discuss:
Provide examples of scripture that are usually taken as "hyperbole".
Is the modern meaning of "hyperbole" a man-made invention?
Provide examples of God saying that he is using "hyperbole" (according to the English definition).
Provide examples of Jesus saying that he is using "hyperbole" (according to the English definition).
Provide examples of Jesus saying that he is using "code words" (where nouns are replaced by their code word meaning).
When should passages of scripture such as sayings of Jesus be interpreted using "hyperbole" and when should they be interpreted as "code words" (were nouns are replaced by their code word meaning)?
In general, the use of
hyperbole is largely that of
opinion truth while the use of
code words, as defined by Jesus, is largely that of
logical truth (i.e., constraint logic, fixed point theory, etc.). That is,
hyperbole allows one a wide latitude of
opinion while
code words is much more restrictive in what can be meant.
14. Types of truth
| invalid logic |
empty opinion |
| horns |
spots |
| tittles |
jots |
| eristic logic |
vain glory |
| strife |
vain glory |
Many people like "opinion truth" such as hyperbole, etc. Everyone can have their own opinion and argue over which opinion is best.
Few people like "logical truth" such as code words (as defined and used by Jesus) as there is not much room for opinion.
15. Opinion rule
As a general rule, it is not effective to use
"logical" "
truth" or
"reality" "
truth" with people who insist on using
"opinion" "
truth".
The trouble with our liberal friends is not that they are ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so. Ronald Reagan (40th President of the United States)
16. Comparisons
"
Hyperbole" is one way to interpret sayings of Jesus. Some others include the following.
"Metaphor" using "analogies".
"Allegory".
... more to be added ...
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Details are left as a future topic.
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17. John Chrysostom
John
Chrysostom (347-407) was an early church whose name means "
golden-mouthed" from the modern Greek word
"χρυσόστομος" (hree-SO-sto-mos) ≈ "golden-mouthed" from the modern Greek word
"χρυσός" (hree-SOS) ≈ "gold" and the modern Greek word
"στόμα" (STO-ma) ≈ "mouth, person".
Scribes would follow John
Chrysostom around and write down whatever he said.
Matthew filled this role for Jesus.
John
Chrysostom wrote about many things, one of which was
"salt", in connection with the Beatitudes, as in the
"salt" of the "
earth" and the "
light" of the "
world". He, among others, started the analogies of
"salt", etc., using literal salt with
metaphors, rather than
code words, to explain the scriptures.
This might be the start of "
refrigerator magnet" sermons that continue to this day.
18. Walk a mile
Sayings:
... the shoe on the other foot ... from the 1800's as the ... boot is on the other leg ....
... walk a mile in their shoes ... from an 1895 poem by Mary T. Lathrap (1838-1895).
Combining these (mixing metaphors):
Don't criticize others until you walk a mile with the shoe on the other foot.
With jokes like these, you can't be "
shoosey". These
shoe jokes are not fit to
last!
Get your foot in the door.
19. Seeing
You don’t see something until you have the right metaphor to let you perceive it. James Gleick (American author and historical scientist)
20. Mixed metaphors
One church was doing a series on the Wesley House, an analogy created by John Wesley to understand his concept of grace.
One starts at the steps with prevenient grace, then goes to the door and then into the house or living room. Two weeks in a row the following was presented.
You are going up the steps and are at the door getting ready to go into the house.
An analogy was made to Revelation where Jesus is knocking at the door asking for someone to open the door so he could come into the house.
21. Mixed metaphors
Question: Suppose I go up the
steps (prevenient grace) and am at the
door and want to go into the
house.
If Jesus is there knocking to get into the
house, and they won't let him in, why don't I just talk to Jesus right there outside the house. Is there then any need for either of us to go into the house?
Sometimes pastors grab ideas and, without thinking about what those ideas are, put them together and present them.
Dilbert (mixed analogy paraphrase):
Don't judge others until you walk a mile with the shoe on the other foot.
22. Examples of hyperbole
Examples of how people have, over time, interpreted sayings of Jesus as "
hyperbole" will be added over time.
23. Logical analysis: Build
Matthew 21:31 Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom of God before you. [kjv]
τις εκ των δυο εποιησεν το θελημα του πατρος λεγουσιν ο υστερος λεγει αυτοις ο ιησους αμην λεγω υμιν οτι οι τελωναι και αι πορναι προαγουσιν υμας εις την βασιλειαν του θεου [gnt]
Matthew uses
"kingdom" of
"God" rather than
"kingdom" of
"heaven/air". Is there a difference? If so, is it important?
Many attribute this saying to
hyperbole or, essentially, an
opinion. A
logical analysis of this verse is that, with probability approaching certainty,
no religious elite who mislead the faithful for their own greatness will enter the
"kingdom" of
"God".
In particular, if there is even one tax collector or harlot that does not get into the kingdom of God, then neither do any of the religious elite to which Jesus refers.
24. Kingdom of heaven build
1 Groups
2 Line up
3 Enter
4 Stop
Are any of man's "
righteous" (without God) going in?
Sinners who have changed.
Sinners who have not changed.
Birds (religious elite) who have oppressed others.
Sinners who entered the Kingdom of God.
How many "
sparrows" will fall "
without God"?
25. End of page
